Information and Articles

What are good bugs?

Most pest species (bad bugs) have natural enemies (good bugs) that regulate their populations. These good bugs are known as beneficial organisms (also called ‘beneficials’) and include predators and parasitoids. They form the biological component of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy.

How can I use beneficials on my small farm?

The public has been reminded to keep watch for significant weeds which could germinate after recent rainfall.

The call from the Department of Agriculture and Food comes after the discovery of the declared weed Mexican Poppy in Bunbury.

Technical officer Brett Vukelic said six plants had been discovered on a construction site in the city during a routine inspection by the department.

“Mexican Poppy is a P2 declared weed in the South West, which means it must be destroyed,” Mr Vukelic said.

 Weeds pose a serious threat to human and animal health, to primary production and to our natural environment. Weeds reduce farm productivity, displace native species and contribute to on-going land degradation and reduced land values. (Photo shows cattle dead after feeding on the noxious weed, green cestrum (Cestrum parqui).

Where to start?
A small farm will have existing fences in various states of repair (from new to many years old) with some of them no longer being stock proof. A great place to start when looking at fencing is to establish a budget and to work out the maximum amount you are able to spend.

 Clipex™ technology replaces the old hole in the post with an advanced and extremely simple slot and clip system. No more tie-  clips or tie wire and our patent pending design allows you to easily “clip” in all wire types. Panel mesh, barb wires, plain wire,  insulators, and standoffs can all be quickly clipped into the post with no special tools required or fiddly parts to lose.

Monitoring and reporting
The control of pest animals on private land in New South Wales is the responsibility of the owner/occupier under the Rural Lands Protection Act. There are 3 declared species being rabbits, pigs and wild dogs that must be continuously controlled. These pests cost agriculture money in terms of  lost production and infection of exotic diseases whilst also causing irreversible damage to the environment.

Farm Safety Facts
On-farm injury is a major problem for the agriculture and horticulture industries in Australia.

Deaths - Non-intentional Farm Injury Deaths

Around 100 persons die from non-intentional injury on Australian farms each year. These deaths are of workers, bystanders to work and others and occur in a range of circumstances on farms of different agricultural enterprise types.

Road Traffic Accident Deaths of Farmers

Farm Safety Facts

On-farm injury is a major problem for the agriculture and horticulture industries in Australia.

Deaths - Non-intentional Farm Injury Deaths

Around 100 persons die from non-intentional injury on Australian farms each year. These deaths are of workers, bystanders to work and others and occur in a range of circumstances on farms of different agricultural enterprise types.

Road Traffic Accident Deaths of Farmers

Choose the best Possible Site
Every site is different when installing a stock grid. Try to allow for turning traffic including trucks, stock movement, the road itself (slope/shape/alignment), fencing and diverting the flow of water away from the raised grid.

Dry season conditions present an opportunity for landholders to carry out important maintenance on dams.
Department of Agriculture and Food development officer Tilwin Westrup said low dam levels increased the risk of algal blooms in the south-west over summer.

The release of nutrients stored in silt into the water is part of the reason some dams in the south-west may already be experiencing algal blooms.